And the two-day race is expected to include stretches of the roads through Holme Valley and Holme Moss.

The news also meant that the region can expect a massive boost to the economy with millions of pounds likely to come in from tourists and cycling fans.

The Grand Depart will return to Britain for the first time since 2007, when one million people lined the streets of London for the opening of the event.

Tour organisers Amaury Sports Organisation selected Yorkshire ahead of a separate British-wide bid with an Edinburgh start, but that remains in the running for a future date.

The 100th edition of the Tour begins in Corsica on June 29, 2013.

Leeds and then London will host the race in 2014 before it heads for France, with full route details to be revealed next month.

Two days of racing will take place in Yorkshire on July 5 and 6, 2014.

The Yorkshire bid had the support of many top cyclists.

They include former Holme Valley Wheeler and Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy and Mirfield’s Brian Robinson, the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France in 1958.

Barry Hoban, winner of eight stages of the Tour and Malcolm Elliott, the first British rider to win a points jersey in a Grand Tour, also backed the bid.

Welcome to Yorkshire were behind the bid.

Its chief executive Gary Verity said: “It is a proud day for everyone involved in the bid and the county as a whole.

“We are honoured that the race organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), have selected Yorkshire to be the host location of the 2014 Grand Depart.

“It will mean less than two years after hosting the Olympics the British public can look forward to another of the world’s biggest sporting events coming to the country, and I am in no doubt they will come to Yorkshire in their millions, lining the length and breadth of the route to cheer on the champions of world cycling and our home grown British heroes.

Clr Martyn Bolt, the Kirklees councillor and cycling expert who worked on the bid, said: “It is brilliant news.

“It is anticipated the benefits for the regional economy could be as much as £300m immediately, with more long-term benefits because of the media exposure.

“I was involved in London in 2007 when the Tour was here and the effect was amazing.

“We could see the world’s best cycling teams here for two days of racing as well as the big public rides. It is tremendous”.